To: quidnunc
This view is only partly right.
First, the concept that WMD is really not that important in the WOT is not realistic. Of course, the probability is not very high, compared to the probability of the lower-intensity attacks we've already seen, but the results would be catastrophic on many levels. Basic risk management dictates it's a threat you take seriously.
Second, he sees the war in Iraq as surrounding Saudi. This is only partly true. Sure, it surrounds the Saudis, but more importantly...
* It surrounds Iran.
* It puts us in a position to threaten Iran & Syria, and to demand unfettered access to the Gulf, and to respond quickly to events in Saudi.
* If handled successfully, it encourages reforminsts in Iran & Saudi.
* It cuts off much funding to the PA terrorists, and gives us in tel.
We can take on Saudi at any time - and capture its oil fields & keep it productive. But the long-term strategy we're following - just like in Pakistan - is to move the existing government into a position where it controls the elements within it that are working against us. In Pakistan it's more urgent because of the nukes.
This is not restricted to Saudi Arabia. It covers an entire area of the world:
* Pakistan - stabilize a government that keeps nukes out of the Islamists hands, and prevents proliferation to rouge regimes.
* Afghanistan - get rid of the Taliban for good & crush alQaeda's base.
* Iran - first, prevent their access to nukes with whatever means necessary. Second, regime change, primarily through support for pro-western revolutionaries.
* Iraq - get rid of the Baathists, install a modern government, establish US access to the entire area.
* Syria - permanently stop their support for terrorism & hunger for WMD, first via threats & concessions, but if necessary by military means.
* Libya - already surrendered. Now we have to ensure a true end to WMD & support for terrorism.
The trickiest is North Korea, who uses nukes for blackmail and for $$ - by selling the technology to our enemies. This is trickiest because dealing with NK means dealing with China. China is using NK and diplomatic support for our enemies as a means to weaken us. They don't want a powerful Islamists threatening them, but they are betting that since we'll ultimately win this war anyway, they can triangulate themselves in NK & the WOT to keep us a little off balance, win some concessions in Taiwan and the Pacific Rim, and finish up well ahead when this whole thing is over.
37 posted on
11/26/2004 11:30:18 AM PST by
sanchmo
To: sanchmo
I can imagine that China will play nice if the world (led by dear ol' Prez Bush) refuses to attend the 2008 Beijing Olympics. I pray (and am willing to wager...just a little) that NK's dear leader Kim will have retired or more by 2008. Maybe China will give the hermit dictator a back door to disappear.
75 posted on
11/27/2004 2:45:27 AM PST by
SaltyJoe
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